This represents the last time anyone received a bigger payday then Floyd Mayweather, as De La Hoya, the 6-division champ was the star of this one. The fight was for the WBC light Middleweight crown. This is the fight that finally eclipsed the live gate record held by Tyson VS. Holyfield, 10 years earlier. The biggest subplot to this fight was whether Mayweather’s estranged father would train De La Hoya. Mayweather Sr.’s asking price was too high and alas, that did not happen. In the end Floyd Mayweather won a split decision and well on his way to becoming the game’s biggest money maker.

Upon Mayweather’s retirement, De La Hoya showed just how much he respected Floyd by telling Floyd in a Playboy article: “Let’s face it: You were boring .. the fight game will be a better one without you in it.”